“Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” Mt. 5:43-44
This is the first time it is recorded in the gospels where Jesus teaches about love. His first mention of it is directed toward man and the obligation he has to love. Jesus goes on to teach on how man is to love God and love His neighbor, more than He teaches about how God loves us. About 16 verses in the gospels, Jesus exhorts man to love God and man, while only around 7 times does Jesus refer to God’s love for us. Some of these preachers today really have this reversed.